The book-storing rooms of the highest level were protected by magic formations. Borrowing materials from these rooms required the permission of a high priest. Even the cleaning work had to be done by the priests. The watchn were divided into a number of hierarchical levels as well. Amon, as soone directly appointed by the Adoratrice, held the highest rank among the watchn and thus was qualified to guard every room in the Archive.
Maria had said that she would give Amon a chance. If he could ascend to the seventh-level, she would grant him access to the records about Duc. However, Amon already had access to all the records now. Nobody knew that he was able to read hieroglyphs.
Unfortunately, he couldnt read the records openly. A watchman reading secret docunts in public would be a sign of blatant disregard for the authorities and the rules. Besides, so of the most valuable docunts were locked in specially-made coffers that could only be opened in the presence of a senior priest. Amon would only take the chance to read the files while patrolling alone and pretending to arrange them. The higher level the rooms were, the more chances he had, because fewer people would co to borrow from them.
He was most interested in two particular types of docunts. One was the old legends involving the gods. Public information about the gods was heavily censored by the authorities. Common people only knew of the edited versions. The original legends about the gods, those rare and ancient docunts, were secretly stored in the Archive. The other type was the research notes left by powerful warriors and mages throughout the ages. This wealth of knowledge guaranteed the power of the Isis Shrine.
The more Amon read, the more deeply he understood sothing. The knowledge taught to him by CrazyOle had been truly precious.
Bair must have visited the Archive countless tis throughout his life. He studied most of the docunts and gained a trendous amount of information, which he then transmitted to CrazyOle. The latter had used this to enrich his spectacular depth of knowledge built up over his century-long quest.
However, Amon still found the docunts nourishing. CrazyOle had only left him the knowledge broadly relating to magic. There were many other interesting subjects which CrazyOle hadnt included in the ssages. Amon was particularly eager to read the records about the town of Duc, but he hadnt co across any of them yet
The Archive was truly imnse in size. Even if Amon could read everything in a book-storing room in just a single day, he would still have to spend months to go through all the rooms. In reality, he could only read several pages per day and only when there was no one else nearby.
This was the most leisurely period of ti Amon had ever experienced. He would occasionally patrol with other watchn and have a casual chat. Every so often, he would help bring out copies for priests who ca to borrow confidential docunts. The watchn had their own residences in the shrine. Amon also had his own house not a very big one, but convenient enough. He received a monthly wage of five gold parans, which was more than sufficient even for a large noble familys monthly expenditures.
If Amon wanted, he could take a wife and buy a house in the city. He could form a family and have children, like the other watchn. Although he was a commoner, since he was working in the Isis Shrine, many noble families would love to marry their daughters to him.
He was a young, handso and sturdy warrior of the fifth level, paid five parans a month. There was no reason for any young woman to reject a fianc like him. Whenever he went out to eat or shop in the city, the shopkeepers and restaurant owners would try to introduce him to families with marriageable young ladies.
Amon always politely declined these invitations. His thoughts were not on marriage and family life. Although he enjoyed the peace and tranquility in mfis, Amon continuously reminded himself that he was a sorcerer, and he had sworn to solve the secret of the gods and guide his clansn back to their holand. Everything he was doing now was to help him get ready for these two difficult missions.
Amon spent most of his ti in the Archive, quickly becoming the most devoted watchman. But he also made ti to travel around the city of mfis. It was actually Aesop who served as his guide once again. Amon had kept his word and paid a visit to Sihathors house. The latter was surprised by his current identity, and thus his enthusiasm towards this young warrior naturally grew.
Sihathor even thought of marrying his daughter to Amon. He introduced Amon to his friends as proof of his good judgent in making new friends, telling them that he had known at first sight that this young man would have a great future. But Amon still preferred to go out with Aesop. While exploring the alleys and markets together, the witty storyteller would satisfy him with various tales and anecdotes which were more interesting than those recorded in the ancient docunts in the Archive.
Most of Amons efforts, however, were still placed on practicing the power of both sides. He ditated each and every night.
He didnt dare to practice magic skills in the Shrine, but ditation wouldnt arouse any suspicion. As for the practice of body arts, nobody would have a problem with that.
His recovered from his wounds quite soon after arriving in mfis, but he found that his bloodline power was only being restored very slowly. He felt that his body was entering a strange phase of growth, starting from nothing. When he believed that he had finally fully regained his power, the power in his body actually didnt stop growing
Amon also surprisingly found that, along with the growth of the bloodline power, the magic power he could use was seemingly increasing as well. Was this the secret of the power of both sides that was missing after being separated in two? During ditation, he could even see the changes inside his body. The transformation took place in his bones, his muscles and his veins. His strength and endurance had previously reached the peak of the fifth level, but now the limit was broken.
When the changes slowed down and his body finally stabilized, Amon started to examine his body thoroughly. He found that he didnt need to sleep anymore. By ditating for just an hour or two, he could recover from exhaustion. He even felt that he could work for weeks without rest.
He also found that he was able to go for long periods without eating anything. ditation could help him regain energy and dispel hunger. As an experint, he stopped eating for half a month and didnt have any trouble. He knew that he wouldnt be able to keep fasting indefinitely, but he was confident that he could last more than a month!
Was this the aning of limit breaking? Amon understood why that warrior still had such strength and endurance after the long pursuit. If the warrior hadnt been severely wounded by the supre magic scrolls, Amon would certainly have lost.
One night, in a deep and serene state of ditation, Amon beca aware that his strength had reached a new equilibrium. He was fully recovered. From this mont on, his body was renewed, like he had beco a new and more perfect life form.
Did this an that he was finally a sixth-level warrior? Did it an that he was a sixth-level mage as well? He knew a way to confirm it. It would suffice to bring out the Terroculus left by CrazyOle and try to read the next ssage.
But he didnt dare do this in the Isis Shrine. He didnt dare to vouch that the magic formation he set in his own house would definitely be able to block the prying gazes of other mages, let alone those of the gods!
On his next day off, Amon left the shrine at sunset. Many watchn liked to go out at this ti and find a good place to drink and have fun. Those with families would go ho and co back the next morning. The city of mfis was huge. He ate dinner at a restaurant in the northern part of the city, then watched so street shows. When it was completely dark, he entered a large hotel and ordered the most expensive suite with a private courtyard.
As a watchman of the Archive, Amon had earned a good amount of gold parans. He didnt have much chance to spend them before. Now, it was ti to enjoy a bit of luxury.
He set up a [Hide] formation. At midnight, he took out the Terroculus. CrazyOles voice arose from it, I have to give you my congratulations again, my boy, since you must have achieved the sixth level on this difficult journey. Theres one thing I need to tell you before you realize it Being a sixth-level mage ans that you can start to practice supre magics. But a mage can only ascend to the sixth-level under one condition: you have to imrse yourself in daily ditation and magic practice for a long period of ti.
Many mages fail to master supre magic because they dont have the self-discipline to do this. Once you take a break or indulge yourself with vacations, you will have to restart the process from the very beginning! Theres no need to try to confirm it its an undocunted secret among mages. Bair reached this conclusion after studying the notes and stories of many supre mages in the Archive. He told about this.
It is part of the test. Ones limit can only be broken after it has been found. And the further you push yourself, the sooner youll know where your limit lies. At least for a mage, ditating is the only way to find their limit. A long period of constant ditation is crucial to the process of limit-breaking.
The result of limit-breaking is that magic practicing becos an integral part of your life. You regard magic practicing as natural and even a necessity. Thats the state of mind you need to achieve before you can master a supre magic.
Many supre mages, like , notice it when looking back on their lives. But they wont tell their apprentices or students about it, and I didnt tell you about it either. I wish for you to solve the secret of the gods! If you cant even devote yourself to the practice of magic and make it an uninterruptible habit, you wont be able to fulfill my wish. Fortunately, youve proven that I was right about you once again!
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